Review: BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS at Lincoln Theatre Company
Playing through May 31st
Lincoln Theatre Company continues its successful season with a staple: Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs. This production is an impressive reminder of how powerful local theatre can be when every piece comes together, and this company always delivers. Director Yolla Ryder has ensured that this show feels polished, thoughtful, and emotionally grounded.
Brighton Beach Memoirs is a coming-of-age semi-autobiographical comedy set in Brooklyn in 1937. The story follows teenager Eugene Jerome, who dreams of becoming a writer…or a baseball player. As he observes the daily struggles and arguments of his extended family, he learns a lot about life and growing up. Through his humorous narration, the show explores loyalty, persistence, and real-world problems. Beau Engler captures Eugene’s awkwardness and keen observation with ease. His narration feels natural and comfortable, and he delivers the story with confidence, giving the production energy and humanity.
Another compelling character is Stephanie Dyan, who plays Eugene’s mother, Kate. Her performance eventually becomes one of the most powerful testimonies of the play. She convincingly portrays a woman stretched thin by the endless demands of caring for everyone around her. Her frustration is palpable, as she has disappeared beneath sacrificing herself for others’ needs.
This production examines the idea of principles vs. survival. When is it ok to sacrifice one for the other? Can we have both? What are people willing to sacrifice to hold onto dignity, morality, and family stability when there are needs to be met? These themes are still relatable, still valid, and felt deeply in our current circumstances.
The entire cast is strong, and the characters feel cohesive. The family dynamic is easy, and the comedy organically complements the conflict. The actors make the characters feel human, lived in, and wholly complex.
The set design by Paul Schechter and set building by Brandon Hunter both deserve special recognition. The house, complete with an upstairs area, gives the production a realism that draws the audience into the Jerome family’s cramped world before the play even starts. We can imagine seven people sharing one bathroom...and share a collective groan. The space is utilized beautifully and efficiently, giving warmth to an otherwise difficult living situation.
This production of Brighton Beach Memoirs is hilarious and heartfelt, and Lincoln Theatre Company is always worth a trip. It leaves us reflecting on the complexities of family dynamics, and how those relationships are the most important ones we can have. As Simon wrote, “The world doesn’t survive without family.”
Brighton Beach Memoirs plays at Lincoln Theatre Company through May 31st. Tickets and more information may be found at lincolntheatrecompany.org.
Photo credit: Claire Haines
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